Alameda County, California is currently holding thousands of dollars in unclaimed funds.

Alameda Counties unclaimed funds are actually called warrants. These are basically checks, mostly for payment, that have not been cashed.  They are held by the Alameda County auditor-controller.

Warrants are used by the County to make payments.  They look like and largely function as checks.  Individuals and businesses may receive what looks like a check from the County, but it is technically a warrant.  Because different laws apply to warrants and checks, the term warrant is used for these payments.

In accordance with Government Code §29802 (a) – (c), uncashed County warrants are void and become stale after six (6) months. Uncashed County warrants that are lost or destroyed may be reissued up to two (2) years from the stale date (2 years and 6 months from the date of issuance). A stale, uncashed County warrant that is more than two (2) years and six (6) months old may be reissued when a valid claim is made that includes the original warrant.

There are certain procedures for claiming uncashed warrants:

An affidavit is required for all claims.

A valid claim must include a signed “Affidavit” for the re-issuance of an Alameda County warrant.  All claims must have a separate Affidavit containing the payee name and address, warrant number, issue date, and dollar amount. The Affidavit must be notarized if the claim amount is over $1,000. This information must be exactly the same as that shown on the original warrant and can be found using the Uncashed Warrants Listing.

If you have the original warrant, you should return it along with the completed Affidavit.

The following guidelines outline the standards by which the Auditor will review Affidavits, subject to the Auditor’s right to request further information:

• Individual. If the payee on the warrant is an individual, the person named as the payee must sign the Affidavit . If there are multiple payees listed on the warrant, then all payees must sign the Affidavit. A copy of a valid government issued photo identification of each payee listed on the warrant is REQUIRED.
• Corporation. If the warrant is payable to a corporation (including Non-Profit Corporate structures), the Affidavit.  must be signed by an officer of the corporation. The qualifying officer’s business card and a copy of his/her valid government issued photo identification are REQUIRED. Potentially qualifying officers include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • President
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Corporate Secretary (or Assistant Corporate Secretary)
  • Executive or Senior Vice President
  • Vice President
  • General Counsel
  • Treasurer (or Assistant Treasurer)
  • Controller (or Assistant Controller)
  • Chief Accounting Officer
  • Director (Non-Profit ONLY)
  • Property Tax Manager (ONLY if claim is for a property tax refund warrant)
• Partnership. If the warrant is payable to either a General Partnership or a Limited Partnership, then the Affidavit must be signed by a General Partner of the organization. A Limited Partner is approved to sign the Affidavit ONLY if this person has been specifically authorized by the partnership to participate in the control and management of the business. A copy of a valid government issued photo identification of the signee is REQUIRED.
• Limited Liability Company. If the warrant is payable to a Limited Liability Company, the Affidavit must be signed by a Managing Member of the organization. A Manager is approved to sign the Affidavit ONLY if this person has been specifically authorized by the membership to participate in the control and management of the business. A copy of a valid government issued photo identification of the signee is REQUIRED.
• Sole Proprietorship. If the warrant is payable to a Sole Proprietorship, the Affidavit must be signed by the owner of the business. A copy of a valid government issued photo identification of the signee is REQUIRED.
• Government Agency. If the warrant is payable to a Government Agency, the Affidavit must be signed by an officer of the agency. A copy of a valid government issued photo identification of the signee is REQUIRED. Potentially qualifying officers include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Executive Officer
  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Finance Director
  • Agency Director
  • Department Head/Chief (or Assistant Department Head/Chief)
  • Bureau Chief (or Assistant Bureau Chief)
  • Division Chief
  • Treasurer (or Assistant Treasurer)
  • Controller (or Assistant Controller)
  • Fiscal Officer

Unclaimed Money Finders Power of Attorney (Only for third party claim submissions)

If the payee utilizes a third-party agent (such as an asset recovery company) to file a claim, a notarized Power of Attorney MUST be submitted to the County and signed by the same person who signed the Affidavit(s). Warrants reissued via third party claims will be made payable to the original payee.

All completed claim forms should be sent to to:

• Alameda County
  Auditor-Controller Agency
  c/o General Accounting: Stale Dated Warrants
  1221 Oak Street, Rm 220
  Oakland, CA 94612-4284

Did you know you can make money finding unclaimed money for other people?

There is a little known business that lets you do that.

Unclaimed money finders locate people that don’t know they money being held for them and help them to recover it. In return, they charge a commission after the money is recovered.

Please click here if you would like to learn more about this business.

Return to California Unclaimed Funds